Parallel link mounting arm for a furrow opener

Abstract

A trailing arm furrow opener apparatus includes a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link of a parallel link assembly such that the furrow opener bracket and furrow opener attached thereto is maintained in a constant fore and aft angular orientation as the assembly moves up and down. A pucker wheel arm is fixed to one of the upper and lower parallel arm members of the parallel link assembly, and extends rearward from the rear link, and a packer wheel is mounted to the packer wheel arm. A bias device exerts a downward force on the assembly. The presentation angle of the furrow opener with respect to the ground is maintained constant while the assembly moves up and down.

1. A furrow opener apparatus adapted for attachment to a lateral frame member of an implement for travel over the ground in an operating travel direction, the apparatus comprising:
 a parallel link assembly comprising a front link adapted for substantially fixed attachment to the lateral frame member, a rear link, and upper and lower parallel arm members pivotally attached to the front and rear links such that, in a working mode, the rear link is maintained in a substantially constant fore and aft angular orientation as the upper and lower arm members pivot up and down about the front link; 
 a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link, and a furrow opener attached to a lower portion of the furrow opener bracket, the furrow opener operative to form a furrow when a bottom end thereof is engaged in the ground; 
 a packer wheel arm fixed to one of the upper and lower parallel arm members and extending rearward from the rear link, and a packer wheel rotatably mounted to a rear portion of the packer wheel arm such that the packer wheel is substantially aligned with the furrow opener; 
 a bias device operative to exert a downward bias force on the parallel link assembly when in the working mode; 
 wherein the furrow opener is maintained in substantially rigid orientation with respect to the rear link when in the working mode. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the front link defines upper and lower front pivot axes and the rear link defines upper and lower rear pivot axes, and wherein the attachment to the frame member is such that the upper and lower front and rear pivot axes are oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and wherein the upper arm member is pivotally attached to the front link about the upper front pivot axis and pivotally attached to the rear link about the upper rear pivot axis, and wherein the lower arm member is pivotally attached to the front link about the lower front pivot axis and is pivotally attached to the rear link about the lower rear pivot axis such that the upper and lower arm members are oriented substantially parallel to each other. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bias device comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connectable to an active hydraulic source at a first port thereof when in working mode and the active hydraulic source is operative in the working mode to maintain a desired pressure in the hydraulic cylinder to exert a desired downward bias force on the parallel link assembly while allowing the hydraulic cylinder to extend and retract in response to forces exerted on the trailing arm. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connectable to the active hydraulic source at a second port thereof when in a transport mode and the active hydraulic source is operative in transport mode to raise the parallel link assembly to a transport position. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the upper and lower parallel arm members are pivotally attached at rear ends thereof to an upper portion of the furrow opener bracket such that the rear link is provided by the upper portion of the furrow opener bracket. 
   
   
     7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the upper portion of the furrow opener bracket defines a slot and wherein the upper parallel arm member is pivotally attached to the furrow opener bracket by an upper bolt extending through the slot, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to a top end of the furrow opener bracket such that as the hydraulic cylinder exerts a force on the top end of the furrow opener bracket, a top end of the slot bears against the upper bolt to exert the downward bias force on the parallel link assembly. 
   
   
     8. The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the hydraulic cylinder exerts a transport force when in the transport mode to move the furrow opener bracket upward such that a portion of a top front side of the furrow opener bracket bears against the lower parallel arm member and raises the parallel link assembly to a transport position. 
   
   
     9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a vertical operating position of the furrow opener with respect to the packer wheel is adjustable to vary a depth of a corresponding furrow. 
   
   
     10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the packer wheel arm is pivotally attached to a selected one of the upper and lower parallel arm members about a packer wheel arm axis such that an angle of the packer wheel arm with respect to the selected parallel arm member can be adjusted to vary the depth of the furrows. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a depth of the furrow is varied by varying a vertical operating position of the lateral frame member with respect to the ground. 
   
   
     12. A seeding implement apparatus adapted for travel over the ground in an operating travel direction, the apparatus comprising:
 a lateral frame member; 
 a front link substantially fixed to the lateral frame member, a rear link, and upper and lower parallel arm members pivotally attached to the front and rear links such that, in a working mode, the rear link is maintained in a substantially constant fore and aft angular orientation as the upper and lower arm members pivot up and down about the front link; 
 a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link, and a furrow opener attached to a lower portion of the furrow opener bracket, the furrow opener operative to form a furrow when a bottom end thereof is engaged in the ground; 
 a packer wheel arm fixed to one of the upper and lower parallel aim members and extending rearward from the rear link, and a packer wheel rotatably mounted to a rear portion of the packer wheel arm such that the packer wheel is substantially aligned with the furrow opener; 
 a bias device operative to exert a downward bias force on the parallel link assembly when in the working mode; 
 wherein the furrow opener is maintained in substantially rigid orientation with respect to the rear link when in the working mode. 
 
   
   
     13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the front link defines upper and lower front pivot axes and the rear link defines upper and lower rear pivot axes, and wherein the attachment to the frame member is such that the upper and lower front and rear pivot axes are oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and wherein the upper arm member is pivotally attached to the front link about the upper front pivot axis and pivotally attached to the rear link about the upper rear pivot axis, and wherein the lower arm member is pivotally attached to the front link about the lower front pivot axis and is pivotally attached to the rear link about the lower rear pivot axis such that the upper and lower arm members are oriented substantially parallel to each other. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the bias device comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 
   
   
     15. The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connectable to an active hydraulic source at a first port thereof when in working mode and the active hydraulic source is operative in the working mode to maintain a desired pressure in the hydraulic cylinder to exert a desired downward bias force on the parallel link assembly while allowing the hydraulic cylinder to extend and retract in response to forces exerted on the trailing arm. 
   
   
     16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connectable to the active hydraulic source at a second port thereof when in a transport mode and the active hydraulic source is operative in transport mode to raise the parallel link assembly to a transport position. 
   
   
     17. The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the upper and lower parallel arm members are pivotally attached at rear ends thereof to an upper portion of the furrow opener bracket such that the rear link is provided by the upper portion of the furrow opener bracket. 
   
   
     18. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the upper portion of the furrow opener bracket defines a slot and wherein the upper parallel arm member is pivotally attached to the furrow opener bracket by an upper bolt extending through the slot, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to a top end of the furrow opener bracket such that as the hydraulic cylinder exerts a force on the top end of the furrow opener bracket, a top end of the slot bears against the upper bolt to exert the downward bias force on the parallel link assembly. 
   
   
     19. The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the hydraulic cylinder exerts a transport force when in the transport mode to move the furrow opener bracket upward such that a portion of a top front side of the furrow opener bracket bears against the lower parallel arm member and raises the parallel link assembly to a transport position. 
   
   
     20. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein a vertical operating position of the furrow opener with respect to the packer wheel is adjustable to vary a depth of a corresponding furrow. 
   
   
     21. The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the packer wheel arm is pivotally attached to a selected one of the upper and lower parallel arm members about a packer wheel arm axis such that an angle of the packer wheel arm with respect to the selected parallel arm member can be adjusted to vary the depth of the furrows. 
   
   
     22. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the lateral frame member is mounted on wheels for travel over the ground and wherein a vertical position of the lateral frame member with respect to the ground can be varied by moving the wheels up and down with respect to the lateral frame member. 
   
   
     23. The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the depth of the furrow is varied by moving the wheels up and down with respect to the lateral frame member.